So far, Netflix may have wished they’d asked for a receipt when they made a deal with Adam Sandler. His string of Netflix Originals are arguably the worst things committed to streaming.

There’s the offensiveness of The Ridiculous 6 (Rotten Tomatoes Rating – 0%), limp action movie The Do-Over, and humourless satire Sandy Wexler. If you thought he was phoning it in for cinemas, he’s outdone himself online.

It’s a surprise, then, that his latest is arguably his best work in years.

Directed by Noah Baumbach (The Squid and The Whale, Frances Ha), he co-stars with Ben Stiller and Elizabeth Marvel as the children of Harold Meyerowitz, a successful sculptor but somewhat neglectful father. As they come together to attend an exhibition celebrating his work and life, emotional wounds open up and drama lurks on the horizon.

With a lot of dialogue to get through, you need a solid cast to get through the pages. Everyone in the cast has the feel of a dysfunctional, distant family, with pain so clearly visible yet unexpressed.

Stiller has proven his worth in these roles before, and brings a weary frustration to his performance as a successful LA accountant who has up to now tried to keep his distance from his family.

On the opposite end of that spectrum is the always delightful Hoffman, giddily unaware of the damage he has caused to all of his kids and behaving like a mixture of eccentric pensioner and toddler in mid-tantrum. It’s hilarious, particularly when paired with Emma Thompson as his current wife who loves a drink and believes there are no birds left in Italy.

The film’s heart, and biggest surprise, lies in Sandler however.

Part of the thing that made him such a star was that every man sensibility. Over the years that produced popular comedies like The Wedding Singer and striking dramas such as Punch Drunk Love, but recently it felt lost as the quality of the work declined. As Danny, an unemployed single dad with a lifetime of bad choices, he stands out even in this auspicious company. His interactions with on-screen daughter Grace Van Patten feel tender and authentic, with Sandler radiating paternal adoration. However, when paired with Stiller the difference between characters adds depth to their journey.

While it feels similar to other films (there’s more than a hint of Wes Anderson here), the pain of growing up feeling unfulfilled is explored in a way that is both agonising and very funny. One of the better movies to come from the streaming giant, one can only hope this is a turning point for its star as well.